The UK government has refused a request to hold a public inquiry into the death of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko.
Mr Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium in London in 2006. Mr Litvinenko, 43, died after he was poisoned while drinking tea with two Russian men, one a former KGB officer, at a London hotel in 2006. His family believe he was working for MI6 at the time of his death and was killed on the orders of the Kremlin. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23287072  The coroner had requested an inquiry after ruling the inquest could not hear evidence of alleged Russian state involvement.
The Litvinenko family has called for a judicial review of the refusal, saying it showed “utter contempt”.  The former spy’s widow, Marina, said she was “frustrated” and “surprised” by the decision, which had been handled in an “impolite and rude” way. “I’m optimistic, now so many people are involved in this case. More and more people want to know the truth.”
At the request of the government, the coroner had previously agreed to exclude certain material from the inquest on the grounds its disclosure could be damaging to national security. However, this meant the inquest would be unable to look at whether the Russian state was behind the killing or whether the British state could have done more to protect Mr Litvinenko.
Police have sought the arrest of two Russian nationals in relation to the death, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, both of whom deny any involvement. The Russian authorities have rejected requests to extradite the two men.
“It’s absolutely transparent that the Russian government is behind this murder.”The evidence has been seen by the coroner and the courts. There’s prima facie evidence that the Russian government is behind it.
“There’s some sort of collusion behind the scenes with Her Majesty’s government and the Kremlin to obstruct justice.”

“What deals have been made behind the scene is difficult to know.”